Battle of the Atlantic | Narrated by Alan Doyle

Summary

The Battle of the Atlantic, lasting 68 months, was the longest continuous battle of World War II. Starting just hours after Britain declared war in 1939, German submarines targeted convoys bringing vital supplies to Britain. Despite early German successes, including devastating attacks in the mid-Atlantic and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Allied advancements in technology and tactics turned the tide. By 1943, anti-submarine warfare gained ground, and the Germans faced heavy losses. The Canadian military's sacrifices were immense, with thousands lost at sea. A ceremony held every May honors their memory and dedication to victory.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Battle of the Atlantic lasted 68 months, making it the longest continuous battle of WWII.
• 😀 The battle began on September 3rd, 1939, just hours after Britain declared war, with a German submarine torpedoing a passenger ship headed to Montreal.
• 😀 Convoys carrying supplies to Britain were slow and vulnerable, especially with limited tracking technology and short-range aircraft escorts.
• 😀 German submarines, operating in wolf packs, were highly effective at sinking merchant ships during the early stages of the battle.
• 😀 By 1941, German submarines were sinking ships faster than they could be replaced, and for every U-boat lost, the Germans built eight more.
• 😀 By Autumn 1942, over 2,000 merchant ships had been sunk, along with thousands of lives and millions of tons of essential cargo.
• 😀 The Mid-Atlantic became known as the 'Black Pit' due to the success of German submarines in the area.
• 😀 In May 1942, German U-boats entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence and sank 21 ships, demonstrating their boldness in cutting off supply routes to Britain.
• 😀 In 1943, the Allies turned the tide with the development of long-range planes, improved tracking technology, and better anti-submarine warfare tactics.
• 😀 By 1943, German losses increased significantly, and they were no longer able to sink as many ships.
• 😀 The battle officially ended in 1945 when the Germans surrendered, marking the conclusion of the war at sea. Canadian forces suffered substantial casualties in the battle, with over 4,300 men lost.
• 😀 The fallen Canadian service members are commemorated annually on the first Sunday in May at the Halifax Sailors Memorial with a ceremony.

Q & A

What marked the beginning of the Battle of the Atlantic?

The Battle of the Atlantic began on September 3, 1939, just hours after Britain declared war, when a German submarine off the coast of Ireland torpedoed a passenger ship headed to Montreal.

Why were the convoys carrying supplies and troops to Britain vulnerable to German submarines?

The convoys were vulnerable because they were slow, had limited tracking technology, and the planes that could escort them could only do so for a limited distance before needing to return to refuel.

What strategy did the German submarines use to hunt ships during the Battle of the Atlantic?

German submarines hunted in groups known as 'wolf packs,' which allowed them to coordinate attacks and increase their chances of sinking Allied ships.

How severe was the loss of merchant ships by 1942?

By Autumn 1942, over 2,000 merchant ships had been lost, along with thousands of men and millions of tons of essential cargo.

What was the 'Black Pit' and why was it significant?

The 'Black Pit' referred to the Mid-Atlantic, where German submarines operated far from Allied air and naval support. The area became notorious for the high number of Allied ships sunk by German U-boats.

What was the Germans' goal in the Battle of the Atlantic?

The Germans aimed to cut off the supply chain to Britain by sinking Allied ships, hoping that this would weaken Britain enough to help them win the war.

How did the Allies begin to turn the tide in 1943?

In 1943, the Allies developed long-range planes capable of escorting convoys, improved tracking technology, and began deploying anti-submarine ships to hunt down the German wolf packs.

What was the result of the increased Allied efforts against German submarines?

The result was that the Germans began sinking fewer ships and faced growing losses of their own submarines.

What event marked the final days of the Battle of the Atlantic?

On April 16, 1945, the HMCS Esquimalt was torpedoed by U-190 and sunk off Halifax. Three weeks later, the German U-boat surrendered to the Canadians, signaling the end of the battle.

How many Canadian personnel died during the Battle of the Atlantic?

Canada lost approximately 2,000 Navy personnel, 1,600 merchant marines, and 752 Air Force members during the Battle of the Atlantic, with most of the fatalities occurring at sea.

How are the fallen Canadians from the Battle of the Atlantic commemorated?

The names of the fallen Canadian personnel are commemorated on the Halifax Sailors Memorial, and every year on the first Sunday in May, a ceremony is held to honor their memory.